Car-coupling



I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1'. I A. H. RENSHAW 8v H. H. BURDEN. CAR COUPLING (No Model.)

No. 431,195. Patented July 1, 1890.

WITNEEEIEE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED H. RENSHAIV AND I-IONVARD II. BURDEN, OF TROY, NElV YORK.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,195, dated July 1, 1890. Application filed March 8, 1890- serial No. 342,335. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ALFRED H. RENSHAW and HOWARD II. BURDEN, both of the city of Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, have jointly invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in that class of car-couplers which are known as the knuckle type. In this type each of the coupler parts is a counterpart of the other, and each of them is arranged to turn inwardly on a vertical axis in the draw-head to interlock with the other coupler part, and to swing outwardly on this vertical axis to disconnect. Couplers of this class have heretofore generally been secured or locked by means of a pin or block arranged to pass vertically into or through the drawhead. The person acting to connect or disconnect such couplers was by necessity compelled to use one hand to work the locking mechanism and the other hand to move out the knuckle part on its pivotal connection. This latter operation necessitated the passage of the operator between the cars upon the track, which is hazardous. Our invention operates to avoid these dangers, and also gives a mechanism of greater simplicity and strength.

It consists, primarily, in arranging within the draw-head a locking-block operated by means of a rod with which and by which it is turned, which rod is worked from the side of the draw-head. By this red the lock-block is operated to swing upwardly to permit the outward passage of the inner end of the knuckle part, and when the knuckle is closed it is allowed to fall automatically, so as to intervene between the latter and the draw-head to secure the parts in position.

Another feature of our invention consists in combining with this rod, which operates the lock-block to swing upwardly and with which it turns to swing down, a push block or finger. This latter engages with the said rod when pushed inwardly, and by the rod may be operated to engage with the knuckle and force the same to swing outwardly on its verview of a coupler part, showing our invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same coupler through the draw-head and knuckle part of the coupler, and shows the latter swung in and locked'in position by means of the ]ockblock. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the coupler parts shown in Fig. 1, taken on the same line as Fig. 2. It shows the lock -block swung up and the knuckle swung out, with the push-block or push'finger in engagement with the inner end of the knuckle and as operated by the lateral movement of the actuating-rod to push out the knuckle part. The position of the pushblock or push-finger when making such engagement is indicated by the dotted line, and the parts illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 are shown on a larger scale than in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the push-block or push-finger shown as removed from the drawhead. Fig. 5 isaperspective view of the lockblock shown as removed from the draw-head. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of lock-block, and Fig. 7 is aperspective view of the operating rod orbar shown as detached.

In the drawings, the letter H designates the draw-head, B the draw-bar, and O the knuckle-form coupler part. This coupler part is made to tongue into the draw-head jaw J by a tongue T, and it is made with top and bottom trunnion-form shoulders H, which run in arch-form grooves g, cut in the upper and lower faces of the draw-head jaw, where it is slotted transversely to receive the entering tongue T of the coupler part C, as shown in Fig. 1.

The letter L designates the lock-block. This is made with a transverse opening 0, adapted to receive a rod R, which is provided with a journal-passage P, made in the draw -head. This opening 0' enables the lock-block to so connect with the rod as to form a hinged union therewith, so that the lock-block may turn up and down with the rod as the rod turns in its journal-passage for such movement, and the rod is free to move back and forth to a limited extent in the opening 0, made in said lock-block. This lock-block is so made on its outer edge that when swung up the inner end E of the coupling part 0 will pass by the block until it reaches the limit of its inward movement. Then the lock-block, which is hung on the rod R back of its center, will automatically fall so as to intervene between the inner edge e of the inner end of the coupler part 0 and a partition or web W, vertically formed in the draw-head. I

The letter F designates the push-block or push-finger, which is arranged within the draw-head interior I, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and in a detached view at Fig. 4:. This push-block is preferably made with a rounded surface S, that in concavity corresponds with the convexity of the rounded corner i of the inner end of the coupler part 0 at the point against which this coupler part abuts when connected with another similar coupler part.

The letter designates a rib formed transversely on the concave of the push-block, and

S is a slot form ed transversely in the rounded I R, and this opening 0 is made with an annular shoulder n and a slot d in one side thereof. The function of this push-block, as thus made and arranged, is to engage with the inner end E of the coupler part 0, and by this engagement to force inwardly the inner end of the coupler part 0, and thus cause the front end to swing outwardly on its vertical axis and into position for interlocking with a counterpart coupler part. This push-block is operated as follows: The letter J 2 designates a journal part made on the rod R, and P abearing made in the side of the draw-head, in which hearing this rod is adapted to turn and be turned and also to be moved inwardly and outwardly. This rod R has also a journal part in the passage-way 0 through the pushblock E, which journal part at its outer end has the same diameter as that of the bearing P, made for the rod in the side of the drawhead; but this rod is made with an annular shoulder n and a journal part of less diam eter where it extends through the push-block beyond the annular shoulder it, made in the latter, and this rod is also made with flattened sides f, to adapt it for engagement with the sired to connect the coupler part 0 with a counterpart coupler part upon another car approaching, the rod R is turned to raise the lock-block and then pushed inwardly to throw open the coupler part. The coupler parts interlock as they abut, the inner ends of the knuckle-form coupler partsengaging to force outwardly the push-blocks while passing under the lock-blocks in each coupler part. This being effected, the lock-block in each coupler part swings down on its hinged connection to lock the parts, as before described.

In the modification of the lock-block shown at Fig. 6 a bevel Z) is shown on the under side thereof to facilitate the passage beneath it of a knuckle part operating upon a vertical pin as an axis. This lock-blockL may be varied in form to adapt it to various kinds of couplers. There are, however, two essential featu res that must be ret-ainednamcly, that the lock-block must be arranged within the drawhead interior, and it must have a laterallyarranged hinged connection, on which it is operated,'to rise for the interlocking of the knuckle-form coupler parts, and to automatically fall on the hinged connection to lock them. The function of the push-block is to engage with the coupler part at its inner end to move the same outwardly 011 a vertical axis, and thus open out the front end. Gonsequently the form of the push-block may be varied, so long as it is operated laterally, to engage with the inner end of the coupler and to operate the same in substantially the manner above described. As thus made and arranged, the principal operating parts are placed within the draw-head interior, where they are not affected by snow or ice, andthey are operated from the side of the car. To the rod R any of the well-known means may be IIO applied to turn the same and then move it.

laterally. It may be operated directly by hand or set in motion indirectly through other mechanisms. I

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patout, is-

1. The combination, with a knuckle-form coupler part which is constructed and arranged to swing into the draw-head when connecting and out of the same when disconnecting, of a push-block arranged within said draw-head to bear against the inner end of the coupler part,and a rod extending through the sides of said draw-head and engaging with said push-block, said rod being adapted to be moved laterally and to move said push-block with said rod and to be moved inwardly by it to push open said, coupler part, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth. 7

3. The combination, with a knuckle-form coupler part constructed to swing within the draw-head, of a lock-block, a push-block, and a rod arranged to operate both the lockingblock and the push-block, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a knuckle-form coupler part constructed to swing within the draw-head, of a rocking lock-block and a reciprocating push-block, and a rod connected to and operating both the lock and the push block, the rod being formed, substantially as described, to oscillate the lock-block and re ciprocate the push-block, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a knuckle-form coupler part constructed to swing Within the draw-head, of an oscillating lock-block, a re ciprocating push-block, and a rod passing through both blocks, being free to move laterally in the lock-block and free to rotate in the push-block, substantially as described. ALFRED H. RENSl-IAlV. l-IOWVARD H. BURDEN. Witnesses:

CHARLES S. BRINTNALL, WV. E. HAGAN. 

